held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, headway on inside 3 out, stayed on under pressure to take 3rd after last
mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway next, beaten when not fluent last, weakened flat
in touch, hampered and lost place 6th, stayed on from 2 out, no threat
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, weakened before last
prominent, disputing 3rd when fell 6th
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, headway when not much room after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway 4th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
prominent until not fluent 6th, soon dropped out
held up towards rear, headway after 6th, challenged after next, not fluent 2 out, no chance with winner flat
chased leader until 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, lost place before 6th, weakened 3 out
led, not fluent 4th, headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, ridden after 6th, weakened before next, pulled up before last
in rear, pushed along from 3rd, lost touch after 5th
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, led on bit before last, drew clear flat, easily
STONEY'S TREASURE is taken to complete his hat-trick whilst Sebastiano and Near The Water have been running consistently well of late and could be involved. Alan King's stable have finally hit form and there should be more to come from Stoney's Treasure who is from a good jumping family. The primary concern is the drop back in trip as his stamina has played a big role in his two successes but he appeared to win with something in hand last time and may prove up to the task on his handicap bow. Sebastiano is running well but has been raised by 7lbs over the course of his last two starts which is far from ideal although it's probably less of an issue than his resolution. He's closely matched with Near The Water who got the better of him at Plumpton and has since gone on to run well behind another Gary Moore horse over this course and distance. That pair have solid claims but there are some unexposed runners to note in Cappagh, Henry Hook and Kotkimix who all hail from respected yards, Marley Roca is capable of better than he showed last time whilst Maraafeq and Oenologue are two more worth keeping an eye on in the ring. There are plenty of potential dark horses therefore but the safest option may be the obvious claims of Stoney's Treasure.
Alph 66-1 (10-13) Mid-division, some headway before 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Lake Legend (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec, 19 ran.
Marley Roca (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 3 out, never on terms, 7th of 10, 26l behind Radium (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Sebastiano (FR) 3-1fav (11-5) Held up, chased leaders approaching 3 out, led flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Near The Water (10-11) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Maraafeq (USA) 6-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden after 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by First Point (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Apr, 9 ran.
Stoney's Treasure 11-4 (11-12) Held up and keen, headway 4 out, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well from last, driven out, won at Plumpton 2m 5f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) sft in Jan beating Pete The Feat (11-1) by 2l, 11 ran.
Princely Hero (IRE) 25-1 (9-12) Always in rear, well behind 8th, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Magic Sky (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Kotkimix (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, led, hit 4th and next, joined after 3 out, ridden and headed before next, weakened into 4th when blundered last, last of 5, 42l behind Benhego (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo hdl (4) gd in May.
Phantom Lad (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Chased leader who was clear until approaching 3rd, challenged 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 11th of 12, 34l behind Keki Buku (11-5) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Mac Halen (IRE) 15-2 (10-11) Raced keenly, tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, lost 2nd 5th, ridden and struggling 6th, well beaten 7th, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Balthazar King (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Near The Water (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, hit 3 out, went second when lunged at last, closed on winner flat, always held, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Lord Singer (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Passato (GER) 16-1 (10-9) In touch, weakened 4 out, 5th of 7, 28l behind The Snail (10-11) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Cappagh (IRE) 80-1 (11-1) Held up, weakened from 6th, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Salden Licht (11-10) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Loco Grande (IRE) 5-1fav (11-2) Held up, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Cobbler's Queen (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Where's Susie 6-1 (11-0) Held up in 4th, not fluent 3rd, 3rd and under pressure after 2 out, weakened into 5th and mistake last, 5th of 7, 29l behind Lindy Lou (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Henry Hook (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, struggling 5th, soon tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Ghizao (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Oenologue (FR) 11-2 (10-7) Held up, headway 6th, tracked leader 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 14, 23l behind Six Day War (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec '08.
